Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 246: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if it is policy to ensure that patients with mental and physical disabilities in residential homes are segregated from residents suffering from MRSA; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5057/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services was assigned to the Health Service Executive (HSE) under the Health Act 2004. Therefore, the Executive is the appropriate body to consider the particular issue raised by the Deputy. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter investigated and to have a full reply issued directly to the Deputy. HSE policy recommends that staff of such homes and the relevant GP are informed before transfer of a patient with MRSA, residents are encouraged to practise good hygiene and are assisted with this where necessary, guidelines on hand hygiene and infection control are applicable, single rooms are used where available and deemed suitable to the particular circumstances, and grouping of patients with MRSA is practised where possible.